How to choose a data provider for your web3 project?

Footprint has created a method that aggregates and compiles raw blockchain data. This is also true for programming integrations.1 Methods of working with blockchain dataLet's start by talking about programming integration methods
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There are many ways to use blockchain data. Your specific goals and needs will determine which approach you choose. Let's start with the basics:1.1 Blockchain explorersA blockchain-explorer is a website that allows you access data stored on a blockchain. This can be a quick and easy way to access information about specific transactions, blocks, and other data on the blockchain.Blockchain explorers can be a useful tool for accessing and viewing data stored on a blockchain, but they do have some limitations for software integrations
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These are just a few of the things that blockchain explorers might lack. The blockchain explorers usually display the raw data from the Blockchain. That requires implementing the abstractions over the raw data, which can be tedious, especially for projects focused on delivery rather than on the technical details of certain blockchains.Customization options: Blockchain explorers are typically designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, which means they may not offer many customization options
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There are many advantages to setting up your own indexer for blockchain data. Here are a few examples of each:Advantages:Customization: When you set up your indexer, you have complete control over how the data is indexed and accessed
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It is important to have a good understanding of the technology involved and to be willing to put in the effort to maintain and update your indexer.
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Before deciding if this is the right approach, it's important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks. There are many benefits and drawbacks to using a third-party database to access blockchain data. These are just a few of the advantages.
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You may not have access to the blockchain data if the indexer has technical problems or goes offline.
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Footprint's primary goal is to lower the barrier to entry and work with web3 data. This is an approach that balances ease-of-use and flexibility. DaaS is our service.
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Before we look at the benefits of our service, let's also examine another implementation option, which is a self-written solution, or SDK. In the next chapters, you will learn the core feature that read only blockchain APIs should possess. We will examine the problem from multiple angles and look for alternative solutions. Some of the most important features of blockchain APIs include the following:Ease of use and flexibilityScalabilityCompatibilityEase of use and flexibility are two important features of blockchain APIs
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Developers will find it easier to build blockchain-based applications using a simple blockchain API. This allows them to quickly prototype their ideas and test them without having to spend a lot of time learning how the API works. Flexibility refers to the ability to support many different use cases and applications. Developers will be able to access different parts and create applications that interact with various types of smart contracts or other blockchain-based assets using a flexible API. Developers who want to create applications that interact with different types of smart contracts and other blockchain-based assets will find this useful. 1.5 Footprint AnalyticsOur data organization ensures ease of use and flexibility.
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Footprint offers an API that is built on top this data model. This API allows users to create full-fledged data pipelines and data analysis applications. It is called a Data API. It supports two types of API, and two sub-types within each API to cover most cases: Rest API or SQL API. REST API allows us quickly integrate applications since each endpoint is pre-built and hard-coded script we have identified to be the most popular.
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All endpoints include easy-to use tools for filtering and sorting. The advantage of using the same SQL queries for both the API and web applications is that they can be simplified in development and maintenance. Developers can use the same queries in both interfaces to avoid having to create and maintain separate queries for the API and web application.
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Developers can use the same queries to ensure consistency in data access and manipulation by both the API and web application. This allows users to seamlessly switch between the interfaces without any interruptions or inconsistencies. Other platforms However, for the most part, alternative solutions tend to go to extremes, implementing either a very flexible product that requires knowledge of query languages or even programming languages or a very simple interface with prepared scripts and, accordingly, low flexibility.Solutions like Moralis and Quicknode only have a REST API interface
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This solution has a major drawback: it requires that you pre-modify SQL on the platform in order to execute the query.
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2.1.1 Footprint Analytics Modern Open Data StackThe Footprint team has made many architectural improvements since August 2021's launch. This is due to its ability to experiment and iterate with technology. These changes were implemented successfully in less than one year and a quarter.
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API calls to the sync endpoint mean that the SQL query will automatically be executed by Footprint servers when an HTTP request from the application is received. This maintains the connection.
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Asynchronous requests are not required to be connected with the server by the client application.
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It can instead get the request-id instantly, and then, after some time, separate get the execution results. As part of the asynchronous API, two-step should be covered to fetch the data - the following endpoint will be used to send an 'order' for SQL execution:https://docs.footprint.network/reference/post_native-asyncThe second step is to send a request to receive results by the identifier obtained when accessing the previous endpoint. The endpoint for this second step is described on the following page:https://docs.footprint.network/reference/get_native-execution-id-results2.2 Other solutionsDuneV2 changes the whole database architecture
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Dune is moving away from a PostgreSQL Database to an Instance of [[Apache Spark]] hosted at [[Databricks]. Only an asynchronous API. CompatibilityBlockchain APIs should be compatible with a wide range of programming languages and development environments so that developers can use the tools and frameworks they are most familiar with.REST is easier to integrate since each programming language has many libraries that provide comfortable work with this type of API
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In the end, REST and SQL APIs both work over HTTP so it is nearly identical for sending requests by default. SummaryBased on our analysis, most applications can use pre-made DaaS solutions. They are able to return abstractions, not just raw data, and allow developers to concentrate on the product's value, and not infrastructure. After looking at various DaaS solutions, Footprint appears to be the best to integrate. It has the most flexible model to generate requests and is also easy to use. Additionally, it uses the modern open-source data platform under the hood which allows for fast and uninterrupted execution of complex requests.